Beijing Highlights: Top Sights and Attractions You Can’t Miss
Beijing highlights include iconic landmarks like the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace, offering a rich blend of history, culture, and architecture.
As the capital of China, Beijing has a rich historical and cultural heritage and a modernized cityscape with many highlights. Below are some of the recommended highlights of Beijing:
The Palace Museum (Forbidden City)
Status: The most well-preserved and largest wooden building complex in China and the world, known as “the first of the world's five palaces”.
Features: the inner court to the Qianqing Palace, Jiaotai Hall, Kunning Palace after the center of the three palaces, as well as the east and west sides of the East Six Palaces and the West Six Palaces, is the feudal emperor and consort residence, that is, commonly known as “three palaces and six houses”.
Temple of Heaven Park
Function: A special altar for the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to offer sacrifices to the heavens, pray for rain, and pray for a good year.
Features: Divided into two parts, the inner altar and the outer altar, there are mainly the Hall of Praying for the Year of the Dragon and the Hall of Emperor Qian, etc. The design of the Echo Wall and the Three Tones Stone reflects the wisdom of the ancients.
Status: The first of the classical gardens in China, on December 2, 1998, it was included in the World Heritage List.
Characteristics: Composed of Wanshoushan Mountain and Kunming Lake, the whole garden is set against the backdrop of the western mountain peaks, and the architectural complexes are integrated with the mountain and lake situations, resulting in an ever-changing scenery.
History: Composed of Yuanming, Changchun and Qichun Gardens, it is a large-scale royal palace created and operated by the emperors of the Qing Dynasty during more than 150 years.
Status: The main buildings were burned to the ground by the British and French forces in 1860, and now you can only hang around in the wreckage, looking for the figure of the glorious empire back then.
BaDaling Great Wall
Status: An important part of The Great Wall of China's great ancient defense project, it is a pass of the Ming Great Wall.
Characteristics: Badaling Great Wall is an important outpost of Juyong Pass, which is known as “the danger of Juyong is not in the pass but in Badaling”.
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What Our Clients Say?
Based on 10,000+ traveler reviews
Daniel Dorothea
Canada
Reviewed on April 29,2025
Shopping on Nanjing Road in Shanghai was just amazing! It's truly the "First Commercial Street of China", where tradition and modernity blend perfectly. You can find awesome souvenirs and experience the trendy vibes in cool stores. The neon lights at night are just spectacular, shining bright like Times Square in New York. The food here is incredible too. I had a feast for my taste buds. Shanghai, I'll definitely be back!
Destination(s):
Shanghai
Date of
Experience:
May 08,2024
Elvis Eva
Canada
Reviewed on June 20,2025
As a solo traveler from Canada, I was nervous about navigating China alone—but this 11-day tour was PERFECT! From hiking the Great Wall at sunrise (Day 3) to gasping at the Terracotta Army (Day 5), every day delivered ‘pinch-me’ moments. The real showstopper? Zhangjiajie’s Avatar Mountains (Day 7)! Our guide made the stone pillars come alive with stories.
Massive thanks for handling all logistics—bullet train tickets, entry passes, car! And the 4-star hotels surprised me.
Destination(s):
Beijing Xian Zhangjiajie Shanghai
Date of
Experience:
June 02,2025
Simon
America
Reviewed on May 29,2025
Our 2-day Zhangjiajie tour was beyond spectacular! As someone who’s visited Beijing and Shanghai for work, this trip revealed China’s wild, magical heart. Day 1 in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park felt like stepping onto Pandora—I’m a huge Avatar fan, and Yuanjiajie’s floating peaks left me breathless. The misty pillars and lush valleys like pure movie magic!
Then came Fenghuang Ancient Town, we eat dinner beside the thundering waterfall. It seems Unreal! The night views of stilt houses glowing over the river were straight from a fairy tale.
For fellow Avatar lovers and adventure seekers: Don’t miss this bucket-list experience! 10/10 would return.
A Well-Traveled Film Buff, May 2025
Destination(s):
Zhangjiajie
Date of
Experience:
May 08,2025
